New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-11
JOHN T. RA YMOND DEAD.
THE COMEDIAN PASSES AWAY IN INDIANA.
CAREER OF THE Wv . RAN AWAY FROM HOME
TO L A ACTOR.

to- D. l. ACTOR.
tBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.
EVANSVILLE Ind, April 1O.-John I. Raymond, the
COMEDIAN died this morning at o'clock, at the St
George Hotel In this city His illness began Friday,
and he unable oil his engagements here although
not until late Friday afternoon after his physicians had
impcratively forbidden his taking part in the per-
formance. would he consent to the engagement being
cancelled. At Hopkinsve, KY, tho last place he ap-
peared the stage, It with the greatest difficult
that he got through with his part OF tho por-
formance. On Saturday he seemed to be i'm
proving. and the company made preparations to
start for Montreal Monday, but about
o'clock at night he began sinking and without any
indication OF suffering died at attended only by
his manager, Walter Lamb, and two Evansville phys
Clans Ds Herr and Couden The cause OF his death
complication Of diseases affecting the heart stomach
aud bowels; In fact, general collapse with marked
tendency the close toward congestion Of the stomach
and bowels. The body has been embamed and will be
held at Evansville until Mrs. Raymond, who is In New
York. can be heard FROM
The life OF John Raymond had covered exactly half
century April g. His original name was John
OBrien. and he born ut Buffalo April s. 1886 He
received common school education together with some
little training In mercantile pursuits but at the age OF
seventeen he away from homo to upon the stage
knew no more about the theatre them he once said
" than did about the NOON" His first appearance was
under the management of Messrs Carr and Henry War
rem and he forward in the part OF Lopez in 1.-THE
Honeymoon" He was almost paralyzed with stage
fright this OCCASION and the condition OF Lopez 10
mostly that of comic yacuity he made accidental hit
the part bat the following night when he undertook to
play Of the soldiers In Macbeth his Inc Experience
was painfully revealed. From Rochester he went to
Philadelphia, where he appeared Timothy Quaint, in
the old play Of" The Soldiers Daughter" September
20, 1854 A little later he engaged by John +.
Owens for the Charles Street Theatre, Baltimore. and
for several after that he employed the
circuit OF the Southern theatres acting in Charleston
Savannah Mobile and New Orleans.
Mr. Raymond first became known In NewYork In 1861,
when he out at Laura Keenes Theatre the sue
cessor to Mr. jefferson, I'm low comedy and character
parts He acted Asa Tenchard in "Our American |
Cousin at that time. On July 1867, he appeared in
London, at the Haymarket Theatre acting this part In
association with Mr.. sothern. and in company with that
famous actor he subsequently visited Paris and acted
there. and likewise made tour OF the British provincial
theatres In the autumn OF 1868 he rcappearcd In New
York. playing Toby To,kie In All that Giers Is not
Gold" little later he went to San Francisco |
when January 1s. 1869 he made his first appearance
at the California Tn acting In Bulwers
edy Of Money" There he remained for several seasons
steadily advancing In public favor and appreciation He
was. In fact great favorte in California, but being
bilious to extend the field Of his activity and conquest he
presently left the stock company returned to the East
ern seaboard and. after various efforts, at length made
conspicuous and brilliant hit in the character Colonel Sci
iers In the wellknown play based Mark Twans story
or 1.-THE Gilded Ago" This piece brought out at
the Park Theatre broadway and Twenty -second-st,
which burned In tho fall of 1882. With |
this character Mr. Raymond made himself known
throughout the Republic and Canada and in this part he
appeared but with before the public OF Lon
don This was In 1880.
For several Colonel Sellers prospered abund-
antly but after time he began grow hackneyed and
Mr Raymond was constrained to seek ne character.
out at wallacks Theatre Ichabod Crane in
drama by George fawcett Rowe. the basis Of Wash
ngton Iryings story OF wolfers Roost," and this will
long be remembered rs OF the quaint, humor-
and touching performances that have graced the
comedy stage In our time.
Mr. Raymond travelled every with moro less
throughout tho country varying his performances
II Colonel Sellers with such parts the old shoe aker In
and Mog yo II in Pnero Chancey
% ss ne pSs IN 9 s,gs s Of al.
hen arranged 70 play for an q several
ons. principal among which was the fact
had am. " Tas on GaaSs
md iis people His last engagsmc1t too n San Fran
shat when he reached the city 70 begin his
'agement. but the result justified his Judgment He
o packed houses lie ended his season In Denver by
Producing D. d. Loyd's THE Woman Hater," which
that he tried his obtain suitable New
E s ana S'
September started his regular tour playing principally
the South, and in Memphi, produced new play By
rander Matthews and George Je called TIE Gold
Tin 'qSH d aSa to visit 'Ps or
pn 20 to see IL His arrangements for next years work
'eeks engagement at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in sep
Mr.. Raymonds professional career extended over b
criod OF thirywo years and In the OF that long
crod he acted all the parts that usually fall to the lot OF
S l .s4r tseA % 1 4oS , ~ fosas s1 anl
lany kindred characters by nature and by purpose he
lentify himself with important eccentric characters
rational drama but his excessive animal spirits and
manner affected the public more directly and power !
lly than anything that ever he ana as dramatic ar
the public will not accept me, but the get
Mt upon the frame they TO be delighted" For this
i. Sanor was rich and joc1nd He had peculiar and
command over the composnre OF his counte
rayity OF his ysage and he sIerted this facial faculty
n'' practical "S% ss nj. mn Tine Hs,p' sassT
lturc In rosy He mpoluous in temper. but az
fectionste In disposition, and his private ifc was v
tor he gave Innocent pleasure to thousands Of people
nd ghtened for heart the weary burden OF care
is professional lineage is that of such ancestors as
oote Finn. Mathews aud sothern. though perhaps he
cked the artistic refinement Of those renowned models
arie 4 Gordon actress who has been known upon m
70 stage since 1894 and who Is now living in retirement
Is second wife, who also survives him. is tho daughter
arrisge the Comedian obta@ed legal authority for the
lange OF his name from John O'Bricn to John T. Ray
No account OF Mr. Raymond would be complete without
reference TO his passion for matching In season and
from his waistcoat pocket and Flip table, win
~ sill or even on his knee as mute CHALLENGE to